Bahrain says not to lenient about minor attack on British embassy

Bahrain vowed Wednesday it would not be lenient with perpetrator of a minor bomb attack on the British embassy in the country, saying such acts are "unacceptable. "

"The attack on the British embassy yesterday is not acceptable, and the kingdom of Bahrain will not be lenient with such acts," the Gulf state's Foreign Minister Sheikh Khalid bin Ahmed al- Khalifa was quoted by official news agency BNA as saying.

"The kingdom is committed to protecting and securing the foreign missions," the minister said, pledging that the attacker will be put to trial.

The report did not make clear if the attacker was arrested or not.

On Wednesday, the British mission said a small explosive device was thrown into its compound on Tuesday night, causing no casualties.

"However, we do not believe there is an increased threat to British citizens or wider British interests in Bahrain, nor have we changed our travel advice to Bahrain," a statement by the embassy said.

The attack followed accusations by Sunni groups against British ambassador Jamie Bowden of interfering in the Sunni-ruled country' s affairs when he reportedly met with members of the Shiite al- Wefaq parliamentary bloc last month.

On March 1, over 300 people staged a rally outside the mission in protest, while Bowden denied the charges.

Source: Xinhua